Apparatus for mineral separation



w. WILSON. APPARATiis Ff-fl MINERAL SEPARATION. "me/man FILED Jun 26. 1915.

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N a WITNESSES;

Patented June 1, 1920.

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WILLIAM W. WILSON, DE

LOS ANGELES, CIALIFGRNIA.

APPARATUS FOR MINERAL SEPARATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Application filed iTuly 2c, 1915. Serial No. 42,036.

' deposits of such minerals are found. More particularly the invention relates to processesof separating the minerals or mineral values of ore in finely divided or comminuted form from the non-metallic ore-bearing substances, in which processes it is customary to produce an admixture of such finely divided, crushed or comminuted materials with an oil for the purpose of imparting buoyancy to the mineral values, which latter are floated off from the surface of the admixtureand so recovered. For the purpose of levitation, to raise the values to the surface, after the levigation of the same with the oil, it is customary in other processes of mineral separation to utilize compressed air or an air blast which is directed upwardly against the floating mineral particles in the admixture of separated particles and oil. thus mechanically raising the latter, which action is enhanced by the agitation of the oil and the production of air bubbles in the oil and surrounding the mineral particles, which bubbles impart their buoyancy to such particles. Furthermore, this aeration process serves to distribute evenly over the mineral particles an oil film which constitutes a buoyant envelop for such particles. It is to be understood, of course. that the gangue or comminuted ore is supplied in admixture with water, prior to the introduction of the oil, and the lower specific gravity of the oil as over the water, aids in the levitation of the mineral particles. due to the action of such buoyant oil envelop. Other means of forcibly elevating the mineral particles have been employed, such as mechanical agitators or means for producing an upward thrust in the admixture of oil and coniminuted ore.

However, as far as I am aware, the levitation of the particles has always been produced in an open chamber, or in a passage or chamber in which such 'levitation progresses throughoutan unobstructed, or unaltered, or. unmodified course. It results,

therefore, from the practice of such other processes that the mineral particles receive but a singlemajor actuation, and resultant thereupon must proceed to the surface to be floated off, or must fail in levitation. In accordance with this invention the levitation is performed in a passage or chamber which is tortuous, or modified, or altered in its extension or form, so that such particles may receive a plurality of upward impulses successively imparted in one and the same apparatus and without the necessity of duplicating the apparatus and subjecting such particles to levitating impulses over and over again in independent operations. Further, in accordance with the present inven-' tion, I cause the finely divided particles to be re-subjected to the elevating action in case there has not been imparted to them sufficient buoyancy to cause the flotation of the same from the apparatus after they have left the zone of levitation. The material is, therefore, repeatedly acted upon and the levitation of all of the particles capable of flotation is performed, and may be performed by the use of a single zone of levigation and levitation. finally fail in flotation are rejected in the zone of levigation and levitation and are passed therefrom, without inutility of subjecting them to further attempts at levita tion in other zones. ()r, if such particles prove too heavy for levitation they will remain in the single cell or unit in which the,

processis being conducted, from which they may' be removed for treatment otherwiw The returning action, whereby parti" which resist lcvitation are returned to the levitation and levigation zone and again acted upon. insures a repetitious treatment which. in the cud. will produce levitation and flotation and recovery of the mineral particles if such is possible, and all without recourse to successive trcatmentsin a battery of treatment units. Thus, the use of a plurality of such units, as is common in practising other processes of separation, is obviated, and a thorough and effective separating action may be carried on in a single treatment unit, with the resultant economy of plant and space. Due to the tortuous form of the zone in which the final levigation and levitation actions take place, a more thorough and effective process is made possible, inasmuch as the action is enhanced due to the application of the air currents in an I l All such particles as gular relation to the stream lines of the moving particles, there being provided a phi-- rality of angularly related stream lines, athwart each of which the air currents are applied.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful combination or association of steps and procedures above pointed out, and which may be carried on in any suitable apparatus, as exemplified in the showing of the accoman in drawin and as hereinafter ar-.

ticularly pointed out with reference to such drawing and finally pointedout in claims.

The drawing discloses in sectional elevation one form of apparatus susceptible to the carrying on of the improved process, it being understood that the process is in no sense limited in its utilization to such particular design or construction as illustrated.

The several parts and features shown in the drawing are designated by reference characters.

Referring with particularity to' the drawing, A designates a suitable casing within which is provided a passage or chamber B of tortuous form, or broken up into a plurality of communicating sub-passages or sub-chambers 1), within which the final levigation and the levitation of the mineral particles is produced.

Likewise within the casing A and at one side of the chamber or passage B is provided a flotation chamber C communicating with the chamber B at the top thereof, as at 2, and likewise communicating with several of the sub-chambers Z), as at 3, 4i and 5, aprons 6 and 7 being provided within such flotation chamber C, and rising obliquely from the adjacent wall of the chamber B, immediately beneath the respective ports or openings 3 and 4. The outer wall 8 of the chamber C constitutes a similar apron ascending obliqi'ely from the wall of the chamber B and rom beneath the opening or port 5, such aprons 6 and 7 and apron wall 8 ranging obliquely upwardly in the same general direction. At the top of the flotation.chamber C, and farthest from the port or opening 2 whereby the chamber B communicates therewith, and at the top of the wall 8 is a lip 9over which the contents of the flotation chamber is discharged to a trough, chute or other structure 10 for receiving the recovered mineral. The lower end of the chamber B is provided with an outlet port 11 controlled by a suitable valve 12 beneath which a discharge pipe 13 leads to a sump or other point of deposit for the drained off water and rejected minerals. The position of the valve 12 with respect to its seat in the port 11 is determined by a float 14 partly immersed in the contents of the flotation chamber C, and operative connections D between such float and valve, which are shown in the drawing as comprising a shaft 15 upon which the float 14 is hung by an arm 16, a crank 17 upon such shaft, a link rod 18 extending from the crank 17, a rock shaft 19 and a crank 20 with which the connecting rod 18 is also connected, and an arm 21 springing from the shaft 19 and supportingthe stem 22 of the valve 12. By means of these connections and the float 1 1 the valve 12 may be maintained properly positioned with respect to its seat, so that the level within the flotation chamber C will be proper to maintain the proper depth of stream passing over the lip 9 into the trough 10, which proper depth will be exceedingly shallow, so that simply enough liquid vehicle will be provided to carry the recovered mineral par ticles over the lip and into the trough, it being desirable to minimize the force of the stream of liquid passing over the lip. so to prevent disturbance of the separating action going on in the flotation chamber and the associated and communicating flotation chamber B. V

Disposed adjacent to the bottom of the flotation chamber B is means E for producing levitation of the mineral particles in the chamber B, and also for producing a final levigation of such particles and the oil and other liquid or semi-liquid substances introduced into the chamber B through a port 23, preferably adjacent to the top of the chamber B. The means E in the drawing is disclosed as consisting of an air nozzle 24 or perforated discharge head, which is supplied with compressed air through a pipe 25 leading from any suitable source of compressed air supply, such as a tank 26, and controlled by a valve 27.

F designates a well known form of mixer to which, through a pipe 27, is supplied the gangue or admixture of finely divided or crushed ore and water, compressed air like wise being supplied to said mixer through a pipe 28 leading from the tank 26 and valve controlled as at 29. To the pipe 27 is also introduced oil from a container 31. The initial levigation takes place in the mixer, from which the admixture resultant upon such initial levigation proceeds to the chamber B through a pipe 30 leading to the port 23.

-The carrying on of the improved process in the use of apparatus such as that disclosed in the drawing, will be readily understood from the foregoing statement and description, taken in connection with the drawing and the following statement The admixture of oil, finely divided ore and other liquids than oil, such as water wh ch will be present in approximately the ratio of two and one-half to one of ore, upon nature being discharged into the chamber 13 is'met by the ascending air currents from'the nozzle 24:, and the particles of mineral receive thoroughly distributed films of oil in which the air tends to produce fine bubbles, and the final levigation thus takes place, and such particles are elevated and tend to pass through the port 2 and to the lip 9 for discharge from the flotation chamber C. If this action does not take place upon subjection to the ascending air currents in the first sub-chamber b entered by the admixture passing through the port 23, the mineral particles either ascending or descending will be acted upon in a communicating and adjacent sub-chamber or chambers b, or in the zones of communication between such sub-chambers, the air being applied forcibly athwart the stream lines of such moving particles. It particles are levitated and cartied through the port 2 and fail to go on over to the lip 9 and discharge, they are returned by the aprons or apron walls 6, 7 or J 8, to the chamber B through theports 3, 4i

or 5 for re-treatment. The non mineral substances are discharged through the port 11, together with such rejected mineral or partmineral substances as fail to become levitated after long contained treatment.

It is manifest that purely mechanical agitation may be substituted for agitation by aeration.v

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patcut:

1. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a casing provided with an upright passage having lateral openings in the sides thereof, an outlet at one side of the casing, a laterally disposed discharge passage being pro vided between the upper end of the upright passage and the outlet, inclined aprons arranged under the lateral discharge passage and leading to the lateral openings of the upright passage for returning ineffectually levitated mineral particles which enter the discharge passage and fail to reach the out let, means for supplying ore to the upright passage, and means for causing levitation of the mineral particles of the ore.

2. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a casing provided with an upright tortuous passage therein, said passage being provided with a series of lateral openings, an outlet at one side of the casing, a lateral discharge passage being provided between the outlet and the upper end of the upright tortuous passage. a series of inclined aprons arranged under the lateral discharge passage and leading to the lateral openings of the tortuous passage for returning to the tortuous passage ineflectually levitated mineral particles which enter the lateral discharge passage and fail, to reach the outlet, means for supplying ore to the upright tortuous passage, and means for causing levitation of mineral particles of ore in the tortuous passage. l

3. In apparatus of the character disclosed, a casing provided with an upright tortuous passage therein and being provided at the" upper end of said passage with a discharge passage disposed approximately laterally with respect to tl pright passage and having an outlet communicating with the discharge passage through which effectually floated mineral particles are adapted to pass, said casing having a series of passages each communicating with' the upright passage and the discharge passage, means to supply ore to the upright passage, means for causing levitation of mineral particles of the ore and the passage of said effectually floated particles through the discharge passage, said last named passages acting to return ineiiectually floated particles from the discharge passage to the tortuous passage.

4:. In apparatus of the character disclosed,=

a casing provided with an upright tortuous passage therein and being provided at the upper end of said passage'with a discharge passage disposed approximately laterally with respect to the upright passage and having an outlet communicating with the dis charge passage through which effectually floated mineral particles are adapted to pass, said casing having a series of passages each communicating with the upright passage and the discharge passage, means to supply NHJLIAlVi N. lVILSON.

Witnesses v ALFRED H. DAEHLER, FRANCIS L; Escnlso. 

